Catholic schools honor John Paul II

Published 8:00 pm, Monday, April 4, 2005

Their voices soared Monday as they practiced a hymn for a special Mass on Friday, the day of the pope's funeral: "Be not afraid. I go before you always. Come follow me and I will give you rest."

Among the first words Cardinal Karol Wojtyla spoke publicly on being elected pope nearly 27 years ago were "Learn not to be afraid." Father Corey Piccinino plans to use that theme for his homily at Immaculate's school Mass.

"I will talk about the words of the pope, 'be not afraid,' about how he looked to live his life, to hold up Christian values and be an example," Piccinino said.

On Monday, flags were at half staff at Catholic schools and they will remain there until the last day of the papal observances, April 11.

Small memorials were set up in halls and chapels with the image of the Holy Father draped with a black ribbon across the top left corner.

School leaders were following the custom of praying the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be to the Father, and all planned special services during the pope's funeral.

Immaculate High planned a rosary after school Tuesday and a school-wide Mass Friday. In addition, 20 students will attend Mass at St. Augustine's Cathedral in Bridgeport, which Bishop William Lori will say.

Piccinino, Immaculate's spiritual leader, had been ordained for two years when he met the pope in 1988 before a special Mass. The pope had not changed yet from his white cassock into his Mass vestments as they sat together. He said the pope had his eyes closed and was deep in thought.

"You could tell he was in prayer. I never saw someone so engrossed in prayer before," Piccinino said.

Piccinino said Pope John Paul II is the only pope these students have known and were somber when they saw his death coming.

"Those of us who are older knew a very vibrant man but these kids have just seen an older, suffering pope. He's been a great example. It was not 'why me,' but thy will be done,' " Piccinino said.

At St. Rose of Lima School in Newtown, the school's welcome sign included a child's drawing of the pope.

"We started Friday at our weekly Mass to dedicate our intentions and prayers to the pope and said a decade of the rosary to the pope," said principal Mary Maloney. "When we said the rosary the church was absolutely silent and we have kindergartners there. I never saw that reaction."

The teachers are talking to their students about how the pope was a peacemaker and are urging the children to remember what he did and how they should live their lives in Christ.

Sacred Heart School in Danbury also began talking about the pope and his life Friday when he was so close to death and are talking each morning this week before the funeral.

"I talked about his life and what kind of man he was, how he steered the course and did not waiver," said Mary McCormack, the school principal and eighth-grade religion teacher. "I reminded them how hard he tried to do what was right, how these people praise him because he did not falter in his mission to respect life."

Ali Meenan, Sacred Heart's seventh-grade religion teacher, talked Monday to her students about the process of choosing the next pope, about how the cardinals meet as a conclave and take multiple votes that are all in secret.

"I think they are very interested at this time. This is the only pope they have ever known," Meenan said. "I explained that he was not just a religious leader, he was a world leader too, and how important it would be to pick the next pope, who will be a world leader."

Every morning, students at St. Gregory the Great School in Danbury pray for the pope and for guidance on the election of the new pope. The school will attend Mass Friday and its eighth-graders will present readings from Isaiah and the first letter of John.

"It is a huge loss but it's up to us to take this emptiness and to move forward with his legacy. He was all about life," said school principal Sr. Mary John O'Rourke. "We will celebrate the great life of the Holy Father and send off a white helium balloon in tribute and honor of his great service."

Some children were sad at school Monday, O'Rourke said, but she tried to turn that around during her morning message. She urged the students to honor the pope's legacy as a peacemaker with their own actions.

"I tell them to respect each other and help each other. If the school can be a beacon of light, this light will go out into the world. That's what our Holy Father did - he went to all the communities and was a symbol of hope and life and joy."

O'Rourke said she has felt an affinity with the pope because of his special affection for children.

"They are the hope of the future. They are going to make the difference in the world," she said. "He knew they could make a difference."